Investor & Business Visas
The Australian migration program encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new or existing businesses.
Business owners, senior executives and investors can apply for a visa under the Business Skills category at one of the three Business Skills Processing Centres.
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)
Read more: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/188-#
Business Innovation stream (188A)
Investor stream (188B)
Significant Investor stream (188C)
Entrepreneur stream (188E)
Before you apply
Expression of Interest (EOI)
Valid passport
Fees and charges: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Fees
General requirements
Health requirements - Meet certain health requirements for all members of your family unit, whether they are migrating or not
Character requirements - Police certification from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you have turned 16 years of age
Applies to you and all members of your family unit listed in your application, whether they are migrating or not
Australian values statement
Debts to Australian government
Business Innovation stream requirements (188A)
Be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency
Under 55
Have functional English - passing IELTS test with an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components (No English requirement if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021)
Score at least 65 on points test
For 2 out of 4 fiscal years before invited to apply, have ownership interest in established business or businesses that had at least AUD$750,000 turnover for each of those years (AUD$500,000 turnover if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021)
Own at least one of the following percentages of your nominated main business:
51%, if the business has a turnover of AUD$400,000 per year
30%, if the business has a turnover of AUD$400,000 or more per year
10%, if the business is a publicly listed company
If your business provides professional, technical or trade services, you must have spent less than half your time providing those services, rather than general management of the business.
At time of invitation, you, your partner, or you and your partner combined must have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD$1,250,000 for transfer to Australia within 2 years of visa grant (AUD$800,000 if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021).
Investor stream requirements (188B)
Be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency
Under 55
Have functional English - passing IELTS test with an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components (No English requirement if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021)
Score at least 65 on the points test
At least three years’ experience of direct involvement in managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments
You, your partner, or you and your partner combined must:
At least one of the five fiscal years immediately before invited to apply, have directly managed one of the following:
a qualifying business in which you, your partner or you and your partner combined had at least 10% ownership interest, or
an eligible investment of at least AUD 2.5 million owned by you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, if invited on or after 1 July 2021(AUD 1.5 million if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021).
During the two fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply, have legally acquired net business, investment and personal assets of at least AUD2.5 million that are available for legal transfer to Australia within two years of the visa being granted. (AUD2.25 million if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021.)
If you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021, you must make a complying significant investment of at least AUD2.5 million. You must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa.
It must be invested in the following proportions:
at least AUD500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies;
at least AUD750,000 in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange;
a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD1.25 million in managed funds;
The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.
Direct investment in residential real estate is prohibited. Indirect investment in residential property through managed funds is strictly limited.
You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
If you were invited to apply for this visa before 1 July 2021, you must make a designated investment of at least AUD1.5 million using unencumbered funds from qualifying business and hold that investment for at least four years from date of issue.
Significant investor stream requirements (188C)
You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade
You must have functional English - passing IELTS test with an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components, or you will be asked to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge (No English requirement if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021).
Live in Australia for at least 40 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa, or your partner to live for at least 180 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa.
You, your partner, or you and your partner combined must have net assets of at least AUD5 million that are legally acquired, unencumbered, and available to be used to make the complying investment in Australia:
at least AUD1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies （AUD500,000 if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021）;
at least AUD1.5 million in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange;
a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD2.5 million in managed funds（AUD3 million if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021）.
The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.
Direct investment in residential real estate is prohibited. Indirect investment in residential property through managed funds is strictly limited.
You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
Entrepreneur stream requirements (188E)
If you were invited to apply on or after 1 July 2021:
Be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency
Under 55
Have competent English - receive at least 6 for each of the 4 components in an IELTS test or equivalent
Have a complying entrepreneur activity which must relate to an innovative idea that will lead to:
the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or
the development of an enterprise or business in Australia;
This activity must not relate to any of the following categories:
residential real estate;
labour hire;
purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia;
If you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021:
You must have one or more legally enforceable agreements to receive funding with a total of at least AUD200,000. The funding must be from one of the following entities:
Commonwealth Government agency;
State or Territory government agency;
Publicly funded research or innovation organisation;
Higher education provider specified as a Table A or Table B provider under Part 2-1 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003;
Investor registered as an Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnership or Early-Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership.
The entity that will conduct the activity (the entrepreneurial entity) must be either an individual (yourself), a company or a partnership.
At least 10% of the funding must be payable to the entrepreneurial entity within 12 months of the activity starting in Australia. This must be in the agreement.
If you are not the entrepreneurial entity you must have personally held at least 30% interest in your entrepreneurial entity when you entered into the agreement.
You must also have a business plan for the entrepreneurial entity. This business plan should note how your innovative idea will lead to:
the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or
the development of an enterprise or business in Australia
All of the funding provided or to be provided to the entrepreneurial entity under the agreement or agreements is unencumbered and lawfully acquired.
Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132)
Closed to new applicants from 1 July 2021.
Significant business history stream (132A)
Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream (132B)
Significant Business History Stream requirements (132A)
You, your partner, or you and your partner combined must have all of the following:
Total net assets of at least AUD$400,000 as the ownership interest one or more qualifying businesses for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply and if the qualifying business(es) was a publicly listed company, a shareholding of at least 10% of the total issued capital.
Net business and personal assets of at least AUD1.5 million that are legally acquired and can be transferred to Australia within two years after the visa is granted.
A total annual turnover of at least AUD3 million in one or more of your main businesses in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply.
Ownership of at least:
51% of a business with turnover of less than AUD$400,000 per year
30% of a business with turnover of more than AUD$400,000 per year, or
10% of a publicly listed company
Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream requirements (132B)
Received at least AUD1 million in funding from an Australian venture capital firm.
Funding must be for the start-up, product commercialisation or business development of a promising high-value business idea.
The venture capital firm must be a member of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL).
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888)
Read more: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/888-
Business innovation stream (888A)
Investor stream (888B)
Significant investor stream (888C)
Entrepreneur Stream (888E)
Applicants will be able to apply for permanent residence after holding the 188 visa for 3 years subject to transitional requirements. Initial subclass 188 visa is valid for 5 years if applicants were invited to apply on or after 1 July 2021.
Business innovation stream requirements (888A)
Have functional English - passing IELTS test with an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components (No English requirement if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021).
For the 24 months immediately before you apply, you must have:
had, and continue to have, an ownership interest in up to two main businesses in Australia;
had a direct and continuous management role in that business or businesses;
submitted Business Activity Statements to the Australian Taxation Office;
an Australian Business Number for each of your main businesses.
For the 24 months immediately before you apply, you must own at least:
51% of the total value of a business with a turnover of less than AUD400,000 per year, or
30% of the total value of a business with a turnover of AUD400,000 or more per year, or
10% of the total value of a business that is operated by a publicly listed company;
Your main business(es) or the business(es) of your partner, or of you and your partner together, had an annual turnover of at least AUD300,000 in the 12 months immediately before the application was made;
For the 12 months immediately before you apply, you or your partner (or you and your partner together) must show at least 2 of the following:
assets of AUD200,000 net value in your main business (or 2 main businesses) in Australia;
personal and business assets in Australia of AUD600,000 net value;
equivalent of at least 2 full-time eligible employees in your main business;
If you want to meet the employee rule, your employees must work in your main business(es) and:
be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or holders of valid New Zealand passports;
not be members of your family;
You must have been physically present in Australia for at least 1 year in the 2 years immediately before you apply for 888A；
Investor stream requirements (888B)
Held provisional visa in the investor stream for at least two of the four years immediately before you apply;
You must have lived in Australia for at least 2 of the 4 years immediately before you apply;
Must have a designated investment of AUD1.5 million with an Australian state or territory for at least four years if the provisional visa was granted on the basis of an application made between 1 July 2015 and 1 July 2021 (AUD2.5 million if you were invited on or after 1 July 2021);
Have functional English - passing IELTS test with an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components (No English requirement if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021).
Significant investor stream requirements (888C)
Have functional English - passing IELTS test with an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components (No English requirement if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021);
Live in Australia for at least 40 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa, or your partner to live for at least 180 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa;
You must make a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million and have a genuine intention to hold that investment for the life of your provisional visa. It must be invested in the following proportions:
at least AUD1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies (AUD500,000 if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021);
at least AUD1.5 million in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange;
a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD2.5 million in managed funds (AUD3 million if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021);
The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.
Direct investment in residential real estate is prohibited. Indirect investment in residential property through managed funds is strictly limited.
You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
Entrepreneur stream requirements (888E)
Have competent English - receive at least 6 for each of the 4 components in an IELTS test or equivalent;
You must have been in Australia for at least 2 years in the 4 years immediately before you apply;
Have a successful record of entrepreneurial activities:
You will need to show either:
2 key success factors, or
1 key success factor and 3 supporting success factors;
Key success factors include:
employing 2 or more Australians, permanent residents or other eligible persons;
generating an annual turnover of at least AUD300, 000;
filing a provisional patent or acquiring a standard or innovation patent;
receiving ongoing funding or investment in your entrepreneur activity;
entering into a partnership with a university;
selling an entrepreneurial venture for AUD2 million;
Supporting success factors include:
adapting your entrepreneurial activities into other business areas;
receiving a statement of success from a state or territory government nominator;
receiving sponsorship from the corporate sector;
starting at least 1 other business or contributing to at least 2 other businesses;
receiving formal awards or recognition;
raising or contributing to social capital;
Entrepreneurial activities in Australia can't be:
residential real estate;
labour hire;
buying an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia;